South Aust on top after day three at MCG

Greg Buckle

Coach Greg Shipperd described his side's batting as disgraceful after Victoria crashed to 6-41 then scrambled to reach 6-86 at stumps on day three of their Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.

The Bushrangers require another 11 runs to make South Australia bat again on Monday's final day of play.

As the Redbacks prepare to celebrate their first Shield win at the MCG since 1998, Shipperd has blasted his side's mental strength.

South Australia had resumed on 2-244 and posted a first-innings tally of 443 led by a fine hundred from former Test opener Phil Hughes (158) plus half-centuries from Callum Ferguson (73) and 18-year-old Travis Head (66).

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Test prospect John Hastings followed his 80 runs in Victoria's first innings with a haul of 5-66.

Hastings is unbeaten on 10, having added 45 for the seventh wicket with Peter Handscomb (32 not out).

While Shipperd acknowledged the pair had bowled well, he was furious with the displays of his batsmen.

The veteran coach took aim at Aaron Finch (16), who was caught at mid-on from a pull shot, and Glenn Maxwell whose extravagant off-drive led to his dismissal caught at third slip for a duck.

Victoria's 6-41 was their third-worst start to an innings in a Shield match at the MCG.

"By the extremely high standards of Victorian batting teams of the past, the top six or seven batters in both innings, 5-83, 6-41, you have to say pretty disgraceful effort and that's why we're under pressure in the game," Shipperd said.

"Lack of technique and a lack of mental strength, simple as that.

"That a was a performance that warrants further investigation and it will be.

"The game's a combination of defence and attack and we've turned it upside down this game and got it wrong.

"Our batters have been woefully under par."

Victoria's next Shield match isn't until January 24 in Adelaide.

"It probably might take us six or eight weeks to digest that performance," said Shipperd, as he called on his players including Maxwell to show a more steely approach.

"He (Maxwell) needs to learn how to construct a four-day innings that has some toughness, grit and determination along with, when the circumstance arises, to play with the flair that he certainly has," Shipperd added.

Win-less last season, the Darren Berry-coached Redbacks are set to claim a second victory from six matches this season.

"To come out with a strong performance against Victoria, who have been the benchmark for years, it'll be a great result," Sayers said.